Zimbabwe detains, deports award-winning photojournalist

On April 16, 2012, the Zimbabwe Republic Police in the
southern border town of Beitbridge arrested Robin Hammond, a freelance
photojournalist with dual U.K. and New Zealand citizenship, as he reported on
migration between Zimbabwe and neighboring South Africa, government-controlled
state daily The Heraldreported.

Thousands of Zimbabweans fleeing
the political and economic crisis in their country have crossed illegally into
South Africa, according to U.N. data. Lawrence Chinhengo, the chief
superintendent of the local police, told the newspaper that authorities
arrested Hammond along with his companion, Berta Chiguvare, an employee of a
South Africa-based non-governmental organization, and confiscated photo and
video recordings.

Chiguvare was released without charge, but on April 20,
2012, Beitbridge Magistrate Carrington Karidzagundi convicted Hammond of
contravening the Protected Places and Areas Act, a security law that
criminalizes the filming of landmarks or public buildings the government deems
sensitive. He was sentenced to a fine of US$150, The Heraldreported.
Hammond paid the fine, but was returned to prison after immigration authorities
filed a deportation order against him, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights told
CPJ.

On May 4, Hammond was transferred from Beitbridge to the capital
Harare. He was deported May 10.

Hammond has won awards
for his reports on human rights and environmental issues around the world,
including in Zimbabwe, according to his website and Panos, which represents
him.